What good can possibly come from giving Shriley “Westboro Baptist” Phelps a platform of any kind to spout her vitriol?
Well for one thing, it kind of takes the power out of her message. “God hates fags” is jarring, harsh, and violent. Seeing it on a sign is upsetting to say the least.
But there’s something just sad about watching Shirley try to articulate her viewpoint in this odd interview she granted to 17-year-old vlogger Andrew Demnter.
Related: Gay YouTuber Phones Westboro Church’s Shirley Phelps. It Doesn’t Go Well.
How about we take this to the next level?
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Andrew doesn’t fall into the trap of reacting to Shirley, which is really all she wants. Instead we see what happens when she’s faced with civil conversation, which neutralizes any shock appeal she might hope for.
Alex explained to HuffPost, “My goal for the interview was simple: to attempt to understand the “rationale” of a hate-monger. This, however, soon proved futile as I was seeking out logic and reason where it wasn’t meant to be found. Another motivation for interviewing Shirley was to uncover from where her hatred [stemmed].”
Watch below:
Alan Arthur Anglin
She’s going to burn in hell along with her hate mongering dead husband. She’s a despicable human being who is unfit to draw another breath
MarionPaige
Davey Wavey did a vlog in which he called some religious group on the phone so, now I assume that stunt will sweep across youtube like the stunt of teenage guys shaving their legs.
In general, this kind of vlogger stunt furthers the perception that the Gays vs Religious Right Thingy is this funny Roadshow where the players all end up in the finale singing “Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off” (you say tomato, I say to maato). It all plays out like these issues are not really all that serious and that gay people aren’t actually being harmed by anti-gay propaganda. In other words, it plays out like GAY would have no currency without ANTI-GAY.
The tv show Cucumber sorta made fun of these teen vloggers who are fully aware that their audience is mostly men.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2j8wsy_ceallach-spellman-matt-bailey-lip-sync-in-cucumber-s01e03_redband
Gee Rosato
AJAnders
His heart was in the right place and I admire his restraint but it should have been known beforehand that it’s a pointless act to talk any kind of sense to that woman. She has been so far removed from reality for so many years that it’s literally impossible.
In past years, I’ve seen her interviewed on CNN and her face alone freaks the hell out of me, she acts like she was abducted by aliens.
And I watched a documentary once where a reporter went on the Phelps compound and Shirley, who claims to be an attorney, was stating things from both a law and Christian point of view that could be completely contradicted by any 1st grade Sunday School student. Any time she got corrected in a thoughtful manner on her blatant statements, she would explode and basically scream, “I’m right about everything and you’re wrong.”. It’s absolutely impossible to have any kind of discussion with a person like that.
That was when I realized that I should no longer waste any energy getting angry at her or that family. Yes, they say disgusting things but they’re essentially a small group of people who lack any human decenctcy and completely get off on the reaction from people that they instigate. I think their shock value has long expired and the best thing ANY media source can do in regards to them is completely ignore them. Nothing pisses them off more than to not be acknowledged.
Jaroslaw
Another post about this admired the interviewer for his restraint, but truly Ms. Phelps was very gentle with him and he didn’t ask any tough questions. There was no new ground uncovered here, but Andrew D is only 17 so he has to cut his teeth some way.
In a related thought, I remember renting a DVD, can’t remember the name. In a rare lucid moment, Fred Phelps, sitting at a desk being interviewed, said that God was in control and there was nothing to be done (about Gays etc.). If that is the case, then why all the nasty signs, nasty dialogue and hatefulness? Obviously for their own motives of publicity etc.
Jaroslaw
I should have said another post on another site – also, that mentioned their video clip was condensed and it was a bit longer than this one.
chstennis54
@MarionPaige: You’ve gotta be a riot at parties.
Johnnie Apodaca
Figs he hates figs!!
Austin Matthew
Shirley L. Phelps-Roper is this true hon?
Rachel R
Wow, shocker.
Jerry Mitchell
The Hate Monger Will Burn in HELL……..
Rick Mckinney
she was just hoping somebody would say Hi to her dad for her!
NoCagada
@MarionPaige: Maybe, you should just stick to that cucumber, honey.
Paul Limandri
Ignore her, she’ll go away, let’s not give her a stage to prove her loyalty to her church, enough
stranded
@Johnnie Apodaca: LMAO!
I’m not sure what the interviewer’s goal is. Their beliefs are pretty straight forward. I don’t understand why anyone would still interview them. All it does is give them another venue to spew their hatred.
Andrew Fairshadow
Oh she is one of the west boro baptist churched. It is a shame such a cult exists. Poor brainwashed soul.
IvanPH
I don’t know who is more foolish between the Phelps and people like this vlogger who are making this insidious family relevant by giving them the publicity they desperately want.
AtticusBennett
it became readily apparent over the years that Phelps Sr, who started this “church”, was indeed a closeted homosexual or bisexual who experimented with males, sexually, while in the military.
the entire POINT of this church is to obsess over anti-lgbt ideologies. think, really think about that. what actual-heterosexual devotes their life’s work to GAY PEOPLE!? answer: none.
Sluggo2007
Squirelly Shirley is a seriously twisted twat.